ARIZARD-L Archives

From: "Roger Harvell" <>
Subject: Mystery-Shirley Richardson
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 07:17:35 -0500

Good morning list. I have a mystery that I would like to get you involved in. Shirley, I believe that Frank Corter may be sending you this question as well.
I am pressed for time this morning, so I am going to cut and paste an email I sent to a Denham researcher (I have not heard from this one yet):
Mr. Denham,
I have a mystery associated with your family name and would like to see if you have any clue as to the answer.
The source of the mystery comes from Clay County, Tennessee, and Monroe County, Kentucky, and many of the names involved remind one of your family.
My father had a 1st cousin in Izard County, Arkansas, who married one Stantford Biles. Recently, I was asking Stant's daughter about his parents. The daughter, Angelee, told me that when she asked about his family her parents would both "clam up" and not a word of explanation was to be had.
It was common knowledge that Stant was a cousin to Sam Colter of Izard County, and Angelee said that she once asked Sam about the family. She said that Sam replied, "Daughter, your Daddy was not a Biles, he was a Denham."
I know from my research that these families came from Clay County, Tennessee, and that Sam's grandparents, John and Rachel (nee Deckard) Colter were married in Monroe County, Kentucky. It is interesting to note that Sam's father was named Dock Colter which I understand was at least a nickname for your grandfather.
Angelee tells me that Stantford Denham had a twin named Bradford who died as an infant. Also, that Stant had a brother who was raised a Morrison. On his dying bed, Stant asked Angelee if his Morrison brother had been told of his condition.
Now, to what we know.
In 1900, John Colter was deceased and his widow was living with a daughter and her husband in District #4 of Clay County. In that household is a 9 year-old that appears to be the other brother that Angelee mentioned, Benton Morrison:
141 141 MANN ALVA HEAD MW UNK 1875 25 M 3

DEA WIFE FW JUL 1882 19 M 3 1 1

CHARLEY R SON MW DEC 1899 5m S

COLTER RACHEL M-INL FW UNK 1845 55 Wd 8 3

MORRISON BENTON WARD MW SEP 1890 9 S

Stant himself was in the household next door:

142 142 WILLIAMS GEORGE B M HEAD MW JUN 1866 33 M 17 *"UNCLE CLEM"

ELIZABETH WIFE FW FEB 1846 54 M 17 1 0*20YRS AGE DIF

DENHAM STANFORD WARD MW DEC 1895 4 S *Stant Biles of Izard

BILES DAVID W BRDR MW JUL 1826 73 S

We know it to be a fact that Stant was raised by George B "Uncle Clem" Williams and his wife "Aunt Bet". It is my believe that Aunt Bet was a half-sister to Dock Colter.

Here are the folks after their move to Izard County, Arkansas:

1910 MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP, IZARD COUNTY, ARKANSAS:

HH # 120 (DOCK COLTER IS N HH # 123)

WILLIAMS, GEORGE B HEAD MW 47 KY KY KY "CLEM WILLIAMS"

LIZZIE WIFE FW 61 TN TN TN

BYLES, STANFORD NEPHEW MW 14 TN TN TN

As you can see, Stant is now identified as a Biles and the nephew of Uncle Clem.

1910 Mill Creek Township, Izard County, Arkansas

123 123 Colter Dock C Head 47 MW TN TN TN

Bell Wife 37 FW TN TN TN

Sam Son 17 MW TN TN TN

Rachle Mthr 70 FW TN TN TN

There are the Colters including son, Sam, and Dock's mother Rachel.

As you can see there is enough here to make one wonder if there was a connection to your Denhams.

Have you ran across anything in your research that might contain the answers that my cousin is looking for about her Denham ancestry?

Your thoughts on the matter would be most appreciated.

My best regards,

Roger Harvell

This thread:

• Mystery-Shirley Richardson by "Roger Harvell" <>